The cat was almost frozen to death when the woman called. She'd seen the animal walking through her back yard. It looked like a stray.

Livingston County Animal Control Deputy J.D. Delatorre tried to save its life Tuesday.

"I brought the cat into my vehicle to take it to a vet, but unfortunately it passed away," he said. A veterinarian later found the cat had suffered from hypothermia.

Livingston County is expected to see temperatures well below freezing Wednesday, with a low around minus 16 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for the county through 11 a.m. Thursday, predicting wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero.

"If people see an animal suffering, call it in to 911 or take it into the animal shelter," Delatorre said.

Animal control officers responded to about 20 calls Tuesday from people concerned about animals without adequate shelter, access to drinking water and food and more calls were coming in Wednesday morning, Delatorre said.

"Specifically, with dogs and cats, a lot of people aren’t having proper shelter that is sufficient to keep their body temperature warm," he said. "We're also receiving welfare complaints on farm animals, like goats, sheep and that kind of thing."

Since Tuesday night, other cats have died because of the cold.

"We do not know if they were left out intentionally or not," Christy Peterson, Livingston County Animal Shelter director, said.

A cat was brought in just after 3 p.m. Tuesday to the shelter after being found at Cider Mill Crossings in Hartland, Peterson said. It was wearing a collar and had been declawed on its front paws.

"Someone owned that pet," Peterson said.

Staff members warmed it up "but unfortunately, we weren’t able to save that one either," she said. She said her agency wants the owner to come forward.

Another cat was found before 9 p.m. Tuesday on East Grand River Avenue in Brighton, Peterson said, and did not survive.

It is the law in Michigan that animals need adequate shelter and access to potable water.

"If someone lets their animal freeze to death, it's possibly a felony, and they could spend time behind bars," Delatorre said.

Animal control is encouraging owners to get their animals inside, to put straw in outdoor dog or cat houses and to use heated water bowls, Delatorre said.

Officers are asking dog owners to wrap kennels in tarps to block the wind, and to put dog houses on high ground.

Delatorre said animal control officers investigate complaints to find out if animals are in immediate danger or if animal owners are in need to education.

"If it’s bad enough, we'll remove the animal, take it to a vet and possibly send it to the prosecutor's office for possible charges," he said. "There is potentially a case or two, right now."

Livingston County Emergency Manager Therese Cremonte said animals can suffer frost bite and hypothermia, just like people.

"People think animals are safer because they have a thick covering of fur," she said, "but they are still vulnerable when it gets this cold."

Emergency relief available

The shelter at 418 S. Highlander Way in Howell is offering emergency relief assistance for dog and cat owners.

Owners need to provide proof of a rabies vaccine or one will be administered for a $5 charge. No boarding fees will be charged but owners are asked to provide food.

The shelter is also offering the temporary use of crates for dogs that may not be able to be in the pet owner's home. The crates can be picked up at the shelter.

The assistance will be available through Thursday and possibly Friday to county residents only.

Free straw

The shelter and Animal Control are also working on getting free straw to pet owners and people with farm animals.

"We've called around this morning, and a lot of stores are out of straw," Delatorre said. "We're trying to buy it on an as-needed basis, if people need it."

A tow truck driver hooks up a pickup truck to his flatbed, the pickup in the median of U.S. 23 facing opposite the direction of traffic Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 north of Clyde Rd. Icy roads and strong winds may have been factors in this and other accidents on the freeway Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Filling her tank from the comfort from her vehicle's interior, Shelbey Carey of Lenawee County pulls her hood over her head to stay warm as she takes the nozzle out at the Marathon gas station at 1360 N. Burkhart Rd. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Chris Konieczny, maintenance supervisor for Yorkshire Place Apartments in Howell, clears show from entryways at the apartment complex Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Asked about how he deals with the sub-zero temperature, Konieczny said "As long as I keep moving, I'm pretty good" Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily